Ai An 



D 570 
.fll A7 



1919d 
Copy 1 






Report of the 




District of Columbia Delegation 




of the 




Proceedings 




at the 




First National Convention 




of 




The American Legion 




: 5 




# 




November 10, 11 and 12, 1919 




Minneapolis, Minnesota 



B7 of $. 

JAN 13 1923 






Washington, D. C. 
December 5, 1919. 

I respectfully submit to the comrades 
of the District of Columbia Department 
the accompanying report of its delegation 
to the First National Convention of The 
American Legion, held at Minneapolis, 
Minn., November 10, 11 and 12, 1919. 

E. Lester Jones, 

Chairman. 



CONTENTS 

PACE 

Chairman Transmitting This Report 1 

Preface (Responsibility) 3-5 

District of Columbia Delegation 6 

National Officers 7 

General Pershing's Greetings 7 

Tribute to Fellow Comrades 8 

Address by First National Commander 9 

Most Dramatic Moment of Convention 9 

Roll of Voting Strength Each State 10 

Names of Committees and Local Representatives 11-12 

Program of Convention 12-13 

Reports of Committees — 

Credentials 14 

Rules for Convention 14 

Permanent Organization of Convention 14 

Emblem 14 

Eligilibity 14-15 

Auxiliaries 15 

Political Restrictions 15 

Finance and National Dues 15 

National Constitution and Organization 16-20 

Legislation 20 

Next Meeting Place 21 

Permanent Headquarters 21 

Post Activities and Memorials 21 

Employment 21-22 

War Risk 22-23 

Beneficial Legislation 23-29 

Military Policy 29-30 

Anti-American Propaganda 30-38 

Resolutions 38-45 



RESPONSIBILITY 

Again responsibility is looking squarely into the faces of all the 
members of the American Legion, and the men who are banding 
themselves together to preserve the ideals for which they fought, 
realize more and more that there must be no obscurity of purpose and 
no uncertainty of accomplishment in establishing the agency for the 
carrying out of the highest ideals in our National life, and in years to 
come the archives will tell the story of those who faced their respon- 
sibility in the services of the Legion. 

Perhaps it is a little early to refer to the "early days" of the Legion, 
but we must not lose sight of the very first day, because there is today 
abundant proof that those who carried the idea over the top, realized 
and accepted the responsibility. 

November 6, 1919, witnessed the starting of the District of 
Columbia delegates to the National Convention, and there was every 
evidence that they were awake to what was expected of them. 

The three leading questions were, who is to be National Com- 
mander? Where the National Headquarters, and where the next 
convention? None of these proved ours and for a time the delegates 
thought the ways of men most peculiar, but they soon woke up to 
the fact that now, as never before, there was a work to be performed 
by the members of the Legion in the District of Columbia. 

Their choice for National Commander did not win; it was not 
expected that he would, as Comrade Jones, while always active in 
behalf of The American Legion, was comparatively in the background 
and unheralded at Minneapolis, except for a small write-up in the 
leading Minneapolis paper on Legion Day, November 9, which 
stated that it was through his efforts that the first Post was formed 
and referred to him as the Father of The American Legion in 
America. 

The setting given to Commander Jones in the nominating speech, 
made by Mr. William A. Stuart, son of a former Governor of Vir- 
ginia, revealed the depth of appreciation in which he is held by those 
who know him in his own state. Colonel Jones remained in the 
running and accepted the votes cast in his favor as a mark of appre- 
ciation from the delegates and the State of Virginia, and in refusing 
to let Commander Jones step out of the running the District of 
Columbia delegates assumed, and stood by their responsibility to the 
man who as State Commander has a National, as well as a local 
prospectus. His part in the drafting of the National Constitution 
revealed this. 



Were the delegates disappointed when they saw that the next 
National Convention would not come to Washington? No! Here 
again there was evidence that they realized their responsibility. 
Washington is in no sense a convention city, either in spirit or in 
equipment. The facilities for taking care of a National Convention 
are not here, and to attempt to supply such facilities, when most any 
of the other larger cities are in a much better position to-do so, with 
but little extra effort, would have been, to say the least, poor judgment 
on the part of the District Delegation. 

It must be remembered that Washington is temperamentally dif- 
ferent from any other city in the Union, it being the Nation's Capital 
makes it so. The delegates remembered this. 

Were the delegates disappointed when National Headquarters was 
lost to them? Genuinely so; and it took quite some time for them 
to realize and accept the loss. Were the delegates responsible for 
this loss? Again, no. They knew better than anyone else the pulse 
of the Convention in regard to this and never failed to state the just 
claims of Washington to become the National Headquarters of the 
American Legion. It was an uphill road, and no one realized it more 
than did the delegate whose duty it was to face the Convention and 
make the appeal for National Headquarters to be sent here. 

Comrade Donovan could not undo in four minutes (the time 
allowed delegates to present their claims) the peculiar phase of 
antagonism produced during the period of the war; and also the 
accusation that if National Headquarters came to Washington, it 
would become a mere political playground and be presided over by 
whatever party happened to be in power. The delegates were con- 
stantly encountering the effect from these two, so called, causes ; and 
each and every delegate handled the situation whenever encountered. 
One of the large State delegations stood solid against the District 
because a number of their members felt that they had been victims 
of the profiteering game while here. 

It was interesting to see Washington so peculiarly accused by the 
limited vision of those who would not lay down personal resentment, 
and inasmuch as personal resentment lacks a just vision, it did not 
remember that, over night, as it were, humanity from the four cor- 
ners of the globe began pouring into Washington, and demanded food, 
shelter and amusement. Washington staggered and groaned under 
the burden so suddenly thrust upon her. One of our delegates asked 
if the City, from which the shallow criticism came, could, or would 
have done better, had it found itself in a similar position. 

The regret which seized the District delegates at first, was short- 
lived when they realized that under the circumstances, it would be 
better for the Legion and for Washington that National Headquarters 

4 



go elsewhere, and let time prove to the contrary minded, that Wash- 
ington is the logical place for the American Legion Headquarters. 

It will be a decided advantage to the District of Columbia Depart- 
ment to have National Headquarters elsewhere at this time. As it 
is, the Department of the District is free to work out its own salva- 
tion and has escaped being placed in the shadow by a large working 
body, and what was at first felt to be a loss, will prove to be a most 
valuable asset. 

Comrade Harry J. Davis was nominated for one of the Vice- 
Commanders and received a large vote including the entire delegation 
from New York. 

The results accomplished by the members of the District delegation 
in the various committees, is a matter of official record, and the 
resolution which caused the greatest human outburst during the entire 
convention, was the resolution of the District delegation, known as 
the Berger resolution. 

As each delegate makes his or her report to the Post they repre- 
sented, it will be seen how important and effective a part the different 
members played in this the first National Convention of the American 
Legion. As time goes on, those who are confronted with a similar 
duty and responsibility, will doubtless appreciate the work accom- 
plished by those who were called upon to serve the Legion when it 
was being put over the top. 

The convention is greatly indebted to the city of Minneapolis for 
its cordial interest and care of the delegates from every State in the 
Union. This City of the Middle West assumed its portion of the 
responsibility to make the convention a success. 

The National Commander has pointed out the Legion's respon- 
sibility for the coming year, for he says "It is not hard for some to 
go to war when the vision of the world is centered upon the warrior 
in uniform. It is harder to fight the quiet and less spectacular fight 
for those same ideals and in the ordinary walks of life. Yet this is 
what the Legion proposes to do and what it will do. 

The individuality of Mr. Franklin D'Olier has been felt throughout 
the entire organization under his leadership; the year before him will 
yield the results hoped for. 

In the sum-total, of all the happenings, at the National Convention, 
surely the District of Columbia delegation need feel no hesitancy in 
claiming its portion of the results obtained by them at the convention. 
Their position was a most unique one, it could not be otherwise ; they 
came from the District of Columbia, the Nation's Capital. 

A. E. Thompson, 

Secretary. 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DELEGATION TO 


MINNEAPOLIS NATIONAL CONVENTION 


DELEGATES 


E. Lester Jones 


A. S. Imirie 


Howard S. Fisk 


E. J. Beaulac 


Kenneth A. McRae 


Oliver V. Kessler 


Rose F. Stokes 


Charles B. Rollins 


Hope Knickerbocker 


Madison L. Hill 


Anna E. Thompson 


Julius I. Peyser 


Harry J. Davis 


Daniel J. Donovan 


Alexander Mann 


Alfred L. Stern 


Alice B. Harvey 


H. L. B. Atkisson 


ALTERNATES 


William G. Glenn 


F. W. Bosch en 


W. C. Smiley 


John M. Vandergrift 


B. M. Graff 
Frank A. Connolly 


Anna S. Seitz 
Mabelle L. Musser 
L. Clarkson Hines 


Donald MacGregor 


T. J. Beerman 


W. M. Purvis 


Gerald Egan 


John T. Taylor 


Paul B. Johnson 


Stanley T. Barker 
E. Lester Jones, 


Wm. F. Franklin 


Anna E. Thompson, 


Chairman. Secretary. 



NATIONAL OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN 
LEGION 

National Commander — Franklin D'Olier, Pennsylvania. 
National Vice-Commanders — Allen T. Tukey, Nebraska. 

Joyce S. Lewis, Minnesota. 

James O'Brien, California. 

Alden R. Chambers, Massachusetts. 

William B. Follette, Oregon. 
National Adjutant — Lemuel L. Bolles, Washington. 
National Chaplain — Rev. Francis A. Kelly, New York. 



AN INSPIRING TELEGRAM FROM GENERAL 
PERSHING 



CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION, 
AMERICAN LEGION, 

MINNEAPOLIS. 

"ON THIS FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF ARMIS- 
TICE DAY MY BEST WISHES GO OUT TO THE 
DELEGATES OF THE FIRST CONVENTION OF 
THE AMERICAN LEGION. MAY THE SAME 
PATRIOTISM AND DEVOTION WITH WHICH 
YOU WERE INSPIRED AS SOLDIERS IN THE 
GREAT WAR GUIDE AND DIRECT YOUR DE- 
LIBERATIONS IN THIS CONVENTION. 

"PERSHING." 



SILENT TRIBUTE TO FALLEN COMRADES 
ON ANNiyERSITY HOUR 

At 11 A. M., November 11, 1919, a solemn hush fell over 
the American Legion Convention, which a moment before 
had been riotous with noisy shouting. Chairman Henry D. 
Lindsley addressed the convention as follows: 

"Gentlemen, one year ago at this time the world was in 
expectancy of the cessation of hostilities in the greatest war 
in all history. We are approaching the moment when the 
world ceased that great conflict, the result being a victory 
for democratic peoples all over this world. 

"I am going to ask every delegate here to rise and bow 
his head or her head in silent prayer as that moment ap- 
proaches, thinking of what it has meant to the world, what 
it means to our country, and particularly thinking of our 
comrades who on the other side gave their lives not only 
that the world might be safe but that we as a nation might 
continue to live as a free people. And our hearts and our 
prayers should go to those who are bereaved throughout 
our land because these men — our comrades — went there and 
gave the supreme sacrifice. 

"The delegates will rise." 

Every delegate rose and stood with bowed head as eleven 
faint organ notes sounded through the auditorium. As the 
last echo died away the organ pealed out "The Star- 
Spangled Banner." 



ADDRESS OF FRANKLIN D'OLIER ON 
ELECTION AS NATIONAL COMMANDER 

"I can only repeat the few words I said before the 
convention in accepting the great honor of being elected the 
National Commander of the American Legion, and that is 
to the effect that we are in the American Legion for work, 
and not for words. 

"The American Legion has an enormous amount of con- 
structive work before it in the coming year, but the spirit 
of clear thinking, fair play and co-operation manifested so 
wonderfully throughout this convention leaves not the 
slightest doubt in my mind that we shall be able to accom- 
plish during the coming year just as remarkable results for 
our country as we all did in such a comparatively short time 
in effecting the utter defeat of the enemy. 

"Every action of this convention was discussed carefully 
and exhaustively, and in every instance the soundest possible 
judgment prevailed. There was only one thought in the 
mind of every delegate present, and that was to do what 
was best for this country of ours for which only so recently 
we were willing to give our all." 



The Most Dramatic Moment of the Convention 
Was Marked by the Unanimous Adoption of 
the Resolution Demanding the Deportation of 
Victor L. Berger, Presented by the District of 
Columbia Delegation. The Resolution Follows : 

Whereas, Victor L. Berger has been duly tried and con- 
victed of a crime involving moral turpitude, and disloyalty 
to our country; therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the American Legion in convention assem- 
bled hereby demands that the proper authorities take all 
legal steps to cancel his citizenship papers and bring about 
his deportation. 



The first annual convention of the American Legion was held at 
Minneapolis, Minn., November 10, 11 ami 12, 1919. It was attended 
by over two thousand delegates from every State in the Union, 
the District of Columbia, Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands, Cuba and 
Mexico. It was considered the most notable convention in American 
history. The meeting was called to order by Henry D. Lindsley, 
temporary chairman, who presided throughout the three-day con- 
vention. 

The following was the permanent roll of the convention with 
voting strength : 



Alabama 6 

Alaska 4 

Arizona 6 

Arkansas 10 

California 18 

Colorado 6 

Connecticut 11 

Cuba 4 

Delaware 6 

District of Columbia 9 

Florida 6 

Georgia 6 

Hawaii 4 

Idaho 6 

Illinois 22 

Indiana 15 

Iowa 25 

Kansas 14 

Kentucky 6 

Louisiana 4 

Maine 9 

Maryland 7 

Massachusetts 65 

Mexico 4 

Michigan 24 

Minnesota 36 

Mississippi 5 



Missouri 14 

Montana 9 

Nebraska 12 

Nevada 5 

New Hampshire 10 

New Jersey 14 

New Mexico 7 

New York 47 

North Carolina 5 

North Dakota 8 

Ohio 45 

Oklahoma 9 

( )regon 13 

Pennsylvania 50 

Rhode Island 9 

South Carolina 5 

South Dakota 10 

Tennessee 8 

Texas 12 

Utah 6 

Virginia 9 

Vermont 9 

Washington 12 

West Virginia 6 

Wisconsin 8 

Wyoming 4 



The amount of work handled at the convention was so great and 
its time so limited, the suggestion was approved that numerous 
committees be selected and the limits of their work defined in order 
to avoid overlapping of work. Each committee consisted of one 
member from each State, selected by that State's delegation. Each 
committee, after assembling, elected its own chairman and secretary, 
and each committee reported direct to the convention, purely in an 

10 



advisory capacity, the convention accepting, rejecting or modifying 
its recommendations. 

The District of Columbia was represented on the following na- 
tional committees: 

Credentials — To recommend final action in voting strength ac- 
credited to each State, it is suggested that State secretaries, where 
possible, be placed on the committee, because by time of convention 
they will be thoroughly conversant with these problems because of 
their work on advance committee. Representative — Hoiuard S. Fisk. 

Rules of the Convention — Included in this committee's report might 
be time allowed each speaker on a resolution, method of handling 
resolutions, and time after which convention may decline to receive 
further resolutions except by consent of convention. Order of busi- 
ness and committee to be chosen to be included in report of advance 
committee. Representative — Julius I. Peyser. 

Permanent Organization of Convention — Covering not only chair- 
man and secretary of convention, but also all assistant secretaries, 
sergeants-at-arms, and any other officers of convention needed. 
Representative — //. L. B. Atkisson. 

Note: The above three committees reported at the first session of 
the convention. 

Emblem — Emblems, banners, official music, ritual and C. & C. 
Representative — Alexander Mann. 

Eligibility — To write eligibility clause of Constitution and to in- 
terpret it with reference to all of the many doubtful cases pending. 
Representative — A. S. Imirie. 

Auxiliaries— -To recommend what auxiliaries, etc., if any, there 
should be, and to define their exact status by writing the necessary 
clause of Constitution and interpreting it carefully for all doubtful 
cases should they be permitted. Representative — Alice B. Harvey. 

Political Restrictions — To recommend the exact limitation, if any, 
upon officers and committee members of National, State and Post 
organizations, with reference to their political activities to maintain 
absolutely the non-political character of the American Legion. If 
restrictions are recommended, then to write this clause of the Con- 
stitution. Representative — Alfred L. Stern. 

Finances and National Dues — To receive financial report and to 
recommend and write national dues clause, of the Constitution. 
Represetative — E. Lester Jones. 

Constitution and Organization — This committee to incorporate in 
its report the final decisions of the convention on the four preceding 
committees, viz., Eligibility, Auxiliaries, Political Restrictions, and 
Finance. Representative — E. Lester Jones. 

Legislation — To recommend how the National Organization shall 
carry into effect the decisions of the National Convention affecting 

11 



national legislation, and to make pertinent recommendations to States 
regarding the promoting of appropriate legislation in their respective 
States. Representative — H. L. B. Atkisson. 

Next Meeting Place — For National Convention in 1920. Repre- 
sentative — Harry J. Davis. 

Permanent Headquarters — For National Organization of the 
American Legion. Representative — Daniel J. Donovan. 

Post Activities and Memorials — To recommend to Posts how Posts 
may be strengthened, membership increased, etc., and also to recom- 
mend what part, if any, local Posts should take in urging memorials 
to their fallen comrades under their custody. Representative — Rose 
F. Stokes. 

Employment — To recommend definite plans for handling employ- 
ment for ex-service persons through National, State and Post organi- 
zations. Representative — Kenneth A. McRae. 

War Risk Insurance — To recommend how ex-service persons may 
receive the most efficient assistance from the American Legion, Na- 
tional, State and Post organizations, and also to recommend what 
improvements in legislation and administration, if any, should be 
urged upon the Government. Representative — Madison L. Hill. 

Beneficial Legislation — For ex-service persons: Vocational Train- 
ing, Care of Disabled, Land and Home Aid, Industrial and Individual 
Loans, Compensation, Bonus, etc. Representative — Kenneth A. 
McRae. 

Military Policy — To recommend what policy, if any, of adequate 
national defense is to be advocated by the American Legion. Repre- 
sentative — Charles B. Rollins. 

Anti-American Propaganda— -To recommend what action, if any, 
should be taken by the American Legion properly to combat at all 
times all anti-American propaganda. Representative — E. J. Beaulac. 

Resolutions — To report on all resolutions submitted to convention 
not properly handled by above committees. Representative — Julius I. 
Peyser. 

The program of the convention for November 10, 11 and 12 was 
as follows: 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1919 

9:00 A.M. — Caucus of State delegations at State headquarters, 

after which they will proceed in body to convention, 

to arrive not later than 10 A. M. 

10:00 A. M— Convention called to order by National Chairman 

Henry D. Lindsley. 

Nomination and election of temporary chairman of 

convention. 
Nomination and election of temporary secretary of 
convention. 

12 



Invocation. 

Addresses of welcome: 

Hon. J. E. Meyers, Mayor of Minneapolis. 
Hon. J. A. A. Burnquist, Governor of Minnesota. 
Report of National Chairman. 

Report of Advance Committee containing recommen- 
dations on order of business of convention. 
Selection by each State delegation of its representa- 
tives on each of the following committees: 
Committee on Credentials. 
Committee on Rules of the Convention. 
Committee on Permanent Organization of Con- 
vention. 
Announcement of location of meeting places of three 
committees and immediate convening of the three 
committees. 
Reports of Secretary and Treasurer. 
Report of Committee on Credentials. 
Report of Committee on Rules of Convention. 
Report of Committee on Permanent Organization of 

the Convention. 
Election of Permanent Officers of the Convention. 
Announcement of time and meeting places for all com- 
mittees. 
Convention adjourned. 
2:30 P. M. — Committee meetings. 

8:00 P.M. — Committee meetings, and entertainment for delegates 
not engaged in committee meetings. 

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 

9:00 A. M. — Convention assembles. 

Reports of committees. 
(Note — At 11:00 A. M. a brief ceremony to mark first anniversary 

of cessation of hostilities.) 
2:00 P.M.— Public gathering. 
9:00 P.M. — Entertainments. 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 

9:00 A.M. — Convention assembles. 
Committee reports. 
Unfinished business. 
New business. 
Adjournment. 

The reports of the various committees as adopted by the conven- 
tion follows: 

13 . , 



CREDENTIALS 

In addition to the permanent roll of the convention as outlined 
above, the members of the Joint National Executive Committee of 
thirty-four, and members of the National Executive Committee of 
one hundred, arising out of the Paris Caucus, and the National 
Executive Committee of 100 arising out of the St. Louis Caucus, 
were directed to be seated, with the delegation of the State in which 
they resided, but they had no vote unless a duly chosen member of 
that State delegation. 

RULES OF THE CONVENTION 

Roberts' Revised Rules of Order were adopted with several modi- 
fications. Nominating speeches were limited to five minutes and 
seconding speeches to two minutes. All resolutions offered on the 
floor of the convention were referred automatically to appropriate 
committees. 

PERMANENT ORGANIZATION OF CONVENTION 

H. L. B. Atkisson, of the District of Columbia, reported to the 
committee that the Chairman of the convention had advised that the 
function of the committee was to recommend convention offices and 
nominate persons to fill them. Henry D. Lindsley, of Texas, was 
nominated as temporary chairman of the convention, and John J. 
Sullivan, of Washington, as temporary first vice-chairman. The con- 
vention Executive Committee was constituted of one delegate from 
each State and Territory. 

EMBLEM 

The present' button adopted and issued by National Headquarters 
was adopted as a permanent emblem of the American Legion. 

A membership card was adopted, to be published and issued by 
National Headquarters annually, each succeeding year's issue to be 
of a different color of material than its predecessor. 

ELIGIBILITY 

Any person shall be eligible for membership in the American Legion 
who was regularly enlisted, drafted, inducted or commissioned, and 
who served on active duty in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of 
the United States at some time during the period between April 6, 
1917, and November 11, 1918, both dates inclusive, or who, being a 
citizens of the United States, at the time of his entry therein, served 
on active duty in the naval, military or air forces of any of the gov- 
ernments associated with the United States during the Great War; 
provided, that no person shall be entitled to membership (a) who, 
being in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States dur- 

14 



mil said period, refused on conscientious, political, or other grounds, 
to subject himself to military discipline or unqualified service, or (b) 
who, being in such service, was separated therefrom under circum- 
stances amounting to dishonorable discharge and has not subse- 
quently been officially restored to an honorable status. 

There shall be no form or class of membership except an active 
memberhip as hereinabove provided. 

AUXILIARIES 

The American Legion recognized an auxiliary organization to be 
known as the "Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion." 

Membership in the auxiliary is to be limited to the mothers, 
wives, daughters and sisters of the members of the American Legion, 
and to the mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of all men and 
women who were in the military or naval service of the United 
States between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, and died 
in line of dutv or after honorable discharge and prior to November 
11, 1920. 

The auxiliary is to be governed in each department of the Ameri- 
can Legion by such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by 
the National Executive Committee and thereafter approved by such 
department of the American Legion. 

POLITICAL RESTRICTIONS 

The American Legion is to be absolutely non-political and is not 
to be used for the dissemination of partisan principles or for the 
promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office or 
preferment. No candidate for or incumbent of a salaried elective 
public office can hold any office in The American Legion, or in any 
department or Post thereof. 

Each member is to perform his or her full duty as a citizen accord- 
ing to their own conscience and understanding. 

FINANCE AND NATIONAL DUES 

The fiscal year of the American Legion is to begin January 1 
and end December 31 of each year, and all dues are to become 
payable on the first day of the fiscal year. The report of the Na- 
tional Treasurer was approved and adopted. 

The national dues of the American Legion are one dollar per 
capita per annum, which is to include one year's subscription to the 
American Legion Weekly, and to cover the operating expenses of the 
national headquarters. 



15 



Constitution and Organization 

The work of this committee was one of the most important 
achievements of the convention, and to E. Lester Jones, chairman 
of the District of Columbia delegation, who served on this com- 
mittee, is due the greatest portion of the credit in drafting the per- 
manent constitution. 

The constitution in full, as adopted by the convention, is as follows: 

Preamble 

For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the 
following purposes: 

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of 
America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one 
hundred per cent Americanism ; to preserve the memories and inci- 
dents of our association in the Great War; to inculcate a sense of 
individual obligation to the community, State and Nation; to combat 
the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the 
master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safe- 
guard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and 
democracy: to consecrate and sanctify our comradship by our devo- 
tion to mutual helpfulness. 

Article I 

Name 

Section- 1. The name of this organization shall be The Ameri- 
can" Legion. 

Article II 

A at lire 

SECTION 1. The American Legion is a civilian organization, 
membership therein does not affect or increase liability for military or 
police service. Rank does not exist in The Legion ; no member shall 
be addressed by his military or naval title in any convention or meet- 
ing of The Legion. 

Sec. 2. The American Legion shall be absolutely non-political 
and shall not he used for the dissemination of partisan principles or 
for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office 
or preferment. No candidate for or incumbent of a salaried elective 
public office shall hold any office in The American Legion or in 
any Department or Post thereof. 

Sec. 3. Each member shall perform his full duty as a citizen ac- 
cording to his own conscience and understanding. 

16 



Article III 

Organization 

Section 1. The American Legion shall be organized in depart- 
ments and these in turn in Posts. There shall be one department in 
each State, in the District of Columbia, and in each Territory of the 
United States. The National Executive Committee may establish 
additional departments in territorial possessions of the United States 
and in foreign countries. 

Article IV 
Eligibility 

Section 1. Any person shall be eligible for membership in the 
American Legion who was regularl) enlisted, drafted, inducted or 
i ommissioned, and who served on active duty in the Army, Nav\ oi 
Marine Corps of the United States at some time during the period 
between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, both dates inclusive, 
or who, being a citi en of the United States, at the time of his entry 
therein, served on active duty in the naval, military or air forces of 
any of the governments associated with the Linked States during the 
Great War; provided, that no person shall be entitled to member- 
ship (a) who, being in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the 
United States during said period, refused on conscientious, political, 
or other grounds, to subject himself to military discipline or unquali- 
fied service, or (b) who, being in such service, was separated there- 
from under circumstances amounting to dishonorable discharge and 
has not subsequently been officially restored to an honorable status. 

Sec. 2. There shall he no form or class of membership except an 
active membership as hereinabove provided. 

Article V. 

Section 1. The legislative body of the Legion shall he the Na- 
tional Convention, to he held annually at a time and place to he 
fixed by the preceding National Convention. 

Sec. 2. In the National Convention each department shall be en- 
titled to five delegates and one additional delegate for each thousand 
members whose current dues have been received by the National 
Treasurer thirty days prior to the meeting of said convention ; and 
to one alternate for each delegate. The delegates shall be chosen 
at departmental conventions to be held not less than two weeks before 
the National Convention. 

Sec. 3. Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote. The vote of 
any delegate absent and not represented by an alternate shall be cast 
by the majority of the delegates present from his department. Alter- 
nates shall have all the privileges of delegates except that of voting. 

Sec. 4. A quorum shall exist at a National Convention when sixty 
per cent of the departments aie represented, as provided above. 

17 



Article VI 

National Officers 

Section 3. The National Convention shall elect a National Com- 
mander and five National Vice-Commanders. No two Vice-Com- 
manders shall he chosen from the same department, and no more than 
three from those who served in the Army. These officers shall be 
members of the National Convention and of the National Executive 
Committee, and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of 
both bodies. A Vice-Commander shall, on request of the National 
Commander, act as chairman of either of said bodies. 

Sec. 2. The National Convention shall also elect a National 
Chaplain. 

Sec. 3. Such officers shall serve until the adjournment of the suc- 
ceeding National Convention and, thereafter, until their successors 
are chosen. Vacancies in these offices occurring between National 
Conventions shall be filled by the National Executive Committee. 

Sec. 4. The National Commander shall appoint a National Ad- 
jutant. The Executive Committee shall appoint a National Treas- 
urer and such officials and standing committees as may be necessary, 
and shall authori e or approve all expenditures. All appointed 
officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the appointing power, and 
all persons having the custody <>f funds shall give adequate bonds. 

Article VI 1 
National Executive Committee 

Section 1. Between National Conventions, the administrative 
power shall be invested in the National Executive Committee, which 
shall be composed of the National Commander and Vice-Com- 
mander in office, and of one representative and one alternate from 
each department to be elected as such department shall determine; 
provided, that in 1919 the delegates to the National Convention shall 
elect the Executive Committee man and alternate from their respec- 
tive departments. 

Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall meet at the place of the 
National Convention within twenty-four hours after the final ad- 
journment of the National Convention, and thereafter at the call of_ 
the National Commander. The National Commander shall call a 
meeting upon the written request of fifteen or more members of said 
Executive Committee. 

Sec. 3. Seven members shall constitute a quorum of the Executive 
Committee. 

Article VIII 
Department Organization 

Section 1. Departments shall be chartered by the National 
Executive Committee and shall be composed of the Posts within 

.18 



their respective areas. Each department charter shall be signed 
by the National Commander and National Adjutant. 

Sec. 2. Each department shall have a department commander, a 
department adjutant, a department executive committee, and such 
other officers as the department shall, determine. 

Article IX 

Section' 1. Those who desire to form a Post shall make applica- 
tion for a charter to the commander of the department in which they 
reside. The charter shall be issued by the National Commander 
and National Adjutant upon receipt of the application properly 
executed by the charter members of the projected post, but onlv 
when such application is approved by the commander of the depart- 
ment, or by the department executive committee. Post charters 
shall be countersigned by the commander and the adjutant of the 
department. 

Sec. 2. The minimum membership of a post shall be determined 
by the executive committee of the department in whose area it lies. 

Sec. 3. Each department may prescribe the constitution of its 
posts. Post charters may be revoked by the department executive 
committee with the approval of the National Executive Committee. 

Sec. 4. No post shall be named after any living person. 

Article X 

Finance 

Section 1. The revenue of the American Legion shall be derived 
from annual membership dues and from such other sources as may 
be approved by the National Executive Committee. 

Sec. 2. The amount of such annual dues shall be determined bv 
each National Convention for the ensuing year. 

Sec. 3. The annual dues shall be collected by each post and 
transmitted through the department to the National Treasurer. 

Article XI 

Discipline 
Section* 1. The National Executive Committee, after notice and 
a hearing, may suspend or revoke the charter of a department which 
violates this Constitution, or which fails adequately to discipline any 
of its posts for any such violation, and may provide for the govern- 
ment and administration of such department during such suspension, 
or upon such revocation. 

Article XII 
Change of Residence 
Section 1. Any member in good standing in a Post removing 
from his department, shall be entitled to a certificate from his post 
stating his membership and the duration thereof. 

19 



Article XIII 
Auxiliaries 

Section 1. The American Legion recognizes an auxiliary organi- 
zation to be known as the "Women's Auxiliary of the American 
Legion." 

Sec. 2. Membership in the auxiliary shall be limited to the 
mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters of the members of the Ameri- 
can Legion, and to the mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters of all 
men and women who were in the military or naval service of the 
United States between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, 
and died in line of duty, or after honorable discharge and prior to 
November 11, 1920. 

Sec. 3. The auxiliary shall be governed in each department of the 
American Legion by such rules and regulations as may be prescribed 
by the National Executive Committee and thereafter approved by 
such department of the American Legion. 

Article XIV 
Ratification 

Section 1. All acts performed and charters heretofore granted by 
the temporary organization of the American Legion are hereby rati- 
fied and confirmed. 

Article XV 

Amendments 

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended at any National 
Convention by the vote of two-thirds of the total authorized repre- 
sentation thereat; provided, that the proposed amendment shall have 
been read at such convention at least twenty-four hours before the 
vote thereon. 

National Incorporation 

This Constitution is adopted conformably to the Act of Congress 
of the United States of America, of date September 16, 1919. 

LEGISLATION 

The National Commander was authorized to appoint a committee 
on legislation, whose duty it shall be to represent the American 
Legion in Washington, D. C. Each State organization will be 
directed to appoint a legislative committee. The activities and ac- 
complishments of the legislative committee since- the St. Louis 
caucus were approved by the convention. The work of this com- 
mittee included the securing from Congress an act incorporating 
the American Legion as a national corporation, which became a law 
on September 16, 1919. 

20 



NEXT MEETING PLACE 

The convention chose Cleveland. Ohio, unanimously, as the next 
convention meeting place, the date selected being September 27. 1920. 
this city having received 511 votes to 165 for San Francisco. 

PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS 

The convention chose Indianapolis. Ind.. as the permanent head- 
quarters of the American Legion. In the committee Minneapolis 
received seventeen votes and Indianapolis sixteen votes. The fight 
was continued on the floor of the convention the next day. the follow- 
ing cities being nominated: Indianapolis. Washington. D. C Minne- 
apolis, Kansas City. Detroit, and Wheeling, W- Va. A roll call 
vote was take, resulting as follows: Washington. D. C 282: In- 
dianapolis. 226: Minneapolis. 88: Kansas City. 49: and Detroit. 39. 
The last three cities were eliminated and a new ballot taken, result- 
ing in Indianapolis receiving 361 and Washington 323. A four- 
minute address was made by Daniel J. Donovan, the District of 
Columbia delegation. 'on behalf of the National Capital. 

POST ACTIVITIES AND MEMORIALS 

Posts were urged to keep the preamble of the American Legion 
before its members, as it tells them what the organization stands for. 
The question of post activities was left to the various local posts. 
with the proviso that matters of policy effecting the American Legion 
be passed on by the State or National organization. 

May 30. of each year, was designated as the American Legion 
Memorial Day. and the consideration of a National Memorial to 
the American dead on French soil is to be reported at the next annual 
convention. Each State is to individually determine itself the nature, 
form and construction to be used in memorials erected to their fallen 
comrades. 

EMPLOYMENT 

The .American Legion, each State organization, each local post, 
and each individual member was urged to co-operate in even' way 
possible with the service and information - branch in the office and 
agency they maintain to provide for the adequate handling of em- 
ployment for discharged service men and that all civilian clerks or 
employes of the Government be ex-service men who have secured an 
honorable discharge : also that each post assume the responsibility 
and see that no member of a post is unemployed. 

The convention declared its belief that in making or providing for 
appointment to a position in Civil Service, National and State gov- 
ernments, by legislative or other appropriate action, preference should 
be given over candidates otherwise equally qualified to veterans of the 
world war and to the widows of those who laid down their lives in 

21 



the service; also that the Civil Service Commission should be author- 
ized and directed to provide in the regulations governing all civil 
service tests, special recognition to patriotism, discipline and similar 
military virtues, and that, in the rating of candidates, a certain per- 
centage be allowed to all veterans. The convention also went on 
record that the veterans, who through wounds or otherwise, have been 
permanently incapacitated by their military service, should have abso- 
lute preference for appointment to any civil service position for which 
their physcial disability does not otherwise disqualify them. 

The convention condemned the hiring or continuance in service 
in the quartermaster depots and Navy commissary stores, of men who 
are not ex-service men, and urged that ex-service men be employed 
exclusively in these positions. 

WAR RISK INSURANCE 

The committee took as its charter the following mandate of the 
convention : 

"To recommend how ex-service persons may receive the most 
efficient assistance from the American Legion, the National, State 
and Post organizations, and also to recommend what improvements 
in legislation and administration, if any, should be urged upon the 
Government. 

The committee submitted three classes of recommendations: 

First. What Congress shall do. 

Second. What the American Legion shall do. 

Third. What the War Risk Bureau shall do. 

/. What Congress Shall Do: 

1. Pass the Sweet Bill (H. R. 8778). 

This bill, passed by the House and pending in the Senate, provides 
increased compensation for disabled men, extends the classes of per- 
sons to whom insurance may be payable, including the insured's 
estate, provides payment of converted insurance in a lump sum, or 
installments covering three years or more at the option of the insured. 

2. Pass the Wason Bill"(H. R. 10365). 

This bill gives the Bureau of War Risk Insurance authority (a) to 
establish fourteen regional offices, (h) to advertise in newspapers and 
periodicals, in order to acquaint all with their rights under the War 
Risk Act, (c) to receive payment of premiums through postoffices, 
and appropriates $2,000,000 for these purposes. 

3. We recommend that Congress do not pass the Harding-Mc- 
Cullough Bill. 

This bill provides that for two years after discharge ex-service 
men be not required to pay insurance premiums. 

This bill was deemed in effect a bonus, which, if it is to be given by 
Congress, should be done directly and not indirectly, and not in a 
manner destructive of one of the purposes of the War Risk Act. 

22 



4. As new legislation it was recommended that Congress pass laws 
to attain the following objects: 

(a) To extend the principles of the Sweet Bill so that TERM 
insurance, as well as CONVERTED insurance, shall be payable 
at option in a lump sum. 

(b) To eliminate all restrictions as to the class of permitted 
beneficiaries. 

(c) Relieve from payment of premiums on term insurance those 
persons who are receiving hospital care under the Bureau of War 
Risk Insurance; those persons in Vocational Training during the 
period of their training; and those persons temporarily totally dis- 
abled, retroactive to October 6, 1917; also to provide, without charge, 
hospital and medical care for all honorably discharged service men 
for one year from the date of their discharge. 

(d) To combine the Federal Board for Vocational Training with 
the Compensation Division of the War Risk Bureau. 

Congress and the Secretary of the Treasury will be requested to 
make an actuarial ascertainment of the true cost of war risk insur- 
ance, as determined by experience, to the end that rates be revised to 
actual mortality cost. 
II. What the American Legion Shall Do: 

Launch an active campaign to obtain at once for ex-service men 
and their dependent relatives, the benefits of the War Risk Act, and 
to that end, that there be provided by each State organization of the 
Legion, a War Risk Officer, paid if possible, who shall immediately 
organize his State through the local posts, in order to .bring about 
prompt adjustments and settlements with the War Risk Bureau, and 
that this campaign be given co-operation by the American Legion 
publication; and further, that there be furnished to these officers 
and each of the Legion Posts, the address of which shall be fur- 
nished by the bureau, copies of all publications, informative literature, 
rulings and instructions issued by the War Risk Bureau. 
///. What the Bureau of War Risk Shall Do: 

Employ more ex-service men at the bureau; give prompter atten- 
tion to inquiries directed to the bureau: and GET BUSY. 

BENEFICIAL LEGISLATION 

The full report of this committee is as follows: 

First — That we memoriali e Congress and urge that the appropria- 
tion of all necessary funds to properly carry on the work of the 
Federal Board for Vocational Education, as needed by the board, 
be made promptly. 

Set ond. — The committee recommends that the immediate passage 
of Bill H. R. 8778, known as the Sweet Bill, be urged upon Congress, 
amending, however, the compensation features so as to include the 

23 



same family allowance as authori ed in Section 204, of the War Risk 
Act. 

Third. — Requests that Congress be urged to grant authority to the 
Bureau of War Risk Insurance to establish fourteen regional offices, 
and to urge upon all Government agencies having to do with dis- 
charged service men, the necessity for having all of their offices under 
one roof. 

Fourth. — Recommend to Congress the enactment of legislation 
making sufficient appropriation to provide adequate hospital and sani- 
torium facilities for the care and treatment of all persons discharged 
from the military and naval service of the United States, and to 
provide medical and surgical treatment to any of the persons men- 
tioned above, irrespective of the service origin or aggravation of 
their disability, for one year subsequent to the passage of the act, 
this in addition to the medical and surgical treatment now provided 
by law. 

Fifth. — Request that all disabled ex-service men and women of the 
military and naval service of the United States be permitted to go 
to the best hospitals, that they may be treated by their own physicians 
if thev so desire. 

Sixth. — Recommend that the following bill, or some similar bill, 
looking to the reimbursement by the Government of all disabled men 
for the loans which they necessarily obtain from the Red Cross and 
other welfare organi ations for their support while waiting for their 
assignment for vocational training or education. 

Resolutions for an Act of Congress to provide for disabled soldiers 
between the time of discharge and entrance upon training. 

Whereas, the immensity of this task, the large number of in- 
dividuals to be provided for, the detail and consideration of manifold 
problems involved in the proper performance thereof, renders it 
p'nsi ally impossible to consummate the duties imposed by statute 
and a high devotion to the disabled soldiers, at a rate of speed 
sufficient to provide a compensation or rehabilitation for them with- 
out unavoidable delays and an interval between the time of discharge 
and the time of receipt of first pay check for a course of training 
for rehabilitation ; and 

Whereas, this has necessitated and will necessitate for some time 
to come, the borrowing of money from private or semi-public co- 
operating organi ations, or becoming dependent on family or other 
relatives for such period as is necessitated for the care of and pro- 
vision fur those entitled bj priority of discharge to the prior services 
of the several Governmental agencies; so, therefore, be it unanimously 

Resolved by the American Legion, in convention assembled, that 
it is the duty of Congress to provide, and Congress is hereby respect- 
fully requested and urged to provide by law with the least possible 
delay, the following: 

24 



A special payment of $75 per month to be paid to officers, marines, 
soldiers and sailors disabled by tuberculosis, and a special payment 
of $50 per month to be paid to other disabled officers, soldiers, sail- 
ors and marines of the United States Army and Navy, who served 
during the periods specified in the War Risk Insurance Act and the 
Vocational Rehabilitation Act, and who have been, or may be dis- 
charged from the United States military or naval hospitals, with an 
honorable discharge showing a disability, or who shall develop a dis- 
ability traceable to their service and apply for compensation within 
three montths. 

Said bonus of $75 and $50 per month, respectively, is to be auto- 
matically due from date of discharge, and shall be paid by the War 
Department or Navy Department out of special funds which Congress 
is asked to appropriate for that purpose, and shall be paid continu- 
ously from time of discharge until award of compensation or entrance 
upon a course of training for rehabilitation. 

Provided, however, that when an award of compensation shall have 
been made as provided in H. R. 8778, commonly known as the Sweet 
Bill, the sums so paid shall be deducted from the amount of arrears 
of compensation awarded, unless the compensation awarded be less 
than the sum so paid, in which case no refund shall be required of 
the amount in excess of said arrears of compensation awarded, and 
provided further, that if no award of compensation be made before 
the disabled soldier enters upon a course of training, only such sum 
of arrears of compensation shall be paid to said soldier as such 
award may be in excess of the bonus paid for the period between 
discharge and entrance upon his course of training. 

Seventh. — Recommend that the American Legion continue its co- 
operation with the Federal Board for Vocational Education, Bureau 
of War Risk Insurance, and Public Health Service, to protect ex- 
service men in their rights under the provisions of the various acts 
administered by said agencies, thereby dispelling, so far as possible, 
any bad impressions that may have resulted from unwarranted news- 
paper criticisms. 

Eighth. — Recommend that the provisions of Section 3, of the Voca- 
tional Rehabilitation Act, be extended so as to include all disabled 
persons. 

Ninth. — That paragraph 2, Section 2, of Senate Resolution No. 
4557, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, as amended by Senate Reso- 
lution No. 1213, approved July II, \^\^K be amended to read as 
follows : 

The board shall have the power, and it shall be its duty, to furnish 
the persons included in this section suitable courses of vocational 
rehabilitation, to be prescribed and provided by the board; and everv 
person electing to follow such a course of vocational rehabilitation 
shall, while following the same, be paid monthly by the said board 

25 



from the appropriation hereinafter provided, such sum as in the. 
judgment of the said board is necessary for his maintenance and sup- 
port of persons depending upon him, if any; provided, however, that 
in no event shall the sum so paid such person while pursuing such 
course be less than $100 per month for a single man without de- 
pendents, for a man with dependents $120 per month, plus the sev- 
eral sums prescribed as family allowances under Section 204, of 
Article 2, of the War Risk Insurance Act. 

Be it further provided that we recommend the enactment of legis- 
lation which will permit or enable the Federal Board for Vocational 
Education to pay the necessary traveling expenses of an applicant 
and his dependents while he may be performing necessary travel in 
connection with his course of training, and while traveling under 
orders of the said Federal Board. 

Tenth. — That a resolution regarding equality of disability pay to all 
officers and enlisted personnel of the Army, Navy or Marine Corps, 
where the disability was occasioned incident to service in the war 
with the Central Powers of Europe, be enacted, to-wit : 

Whereas,- the officers and enlisted personnel entering the army 
from civil life during the recent war bore the same risks, the same 
responsibilities and burdens under identical conditions as officers and 
enlisted men of the Regular Army, and. 

Whereas; National Guard, National Army and Reserve Corps 
officers have been discharged on disabilities ranging from ten per 
cent to total, which means that they receive, after discharge, only 
from $3.00 to $30.00 per month, while a Regular Army officer, if he 
is unfit for active duty, is retired on three-fourths of his pay, with 
additional accounts for commutation of heat, light and quarters, and, 

Whereas, the present laws and regulations constitute an unjust 
discrimination in favor of a certain class of our military forces, viz., 
the Regular Army, and this discrimination being in principle un- 
American and unworthy the practice of a great democracy; 

Be It Resolved, by this National Convention of the American 
Legion, that the existing laws and regulations do unjustly and un- 
wisely discriminate in favor of persons whose interests were no 
greater, and whose service was of no greater benefit to the nation, 
and that such discrimination has a tendency to place the several 
branches of our military system on a different status, thereby causing 
friction and injustice, and, 

Be It Further Resolved, That this National Convention of the 
American Legion heartily endorses the resolution on this subject 
adopted by the St. Louis Caucus of the Legion, and we again request 
the Congress of the United States to amend the present laws so as 
to place all disabled officers and enlisted personnel on the same basis 
as to retirement for their disability, whether they happened to serve 

26 



in the Regular Army, the National Guard, the National Army, or the 
Reserve Corps. 

Eleventh. — That it is the opinion of the American Legion that in 
administration of the compensation features of the War Risk Insur- 
ance Act, the greatest liberality should be shown in determining the 
ratings, and that in case of question as to the rights to compensation, 
or as to the amount of compensation, the disabled soldier be given the 
benefit of any doubt that may arise. 

Twelfth. — That legislation be enacted providing that if any person 
who has been eligible, and who has received the benefits of the War 
Risk Vocational Rehabilitation Act, or any other act for the relief 
of disabled service men or women, shall suffer the recurrence of 
the disease or other disability resulting from military or naval service, 
such person shall again become automatically eligible to all the pro- 
visions of such acts without the formalities now required, to the end 
that speedy relief may be extended to such person and that all tuber- 
cular persons shall be considered totally and permanently disabled 
while undergoing treatment. 

Thirteenth. — That the following legislation affecting former service 
persons securing educational courses be enacted, such legislation 
known as that Kahn Resolution, H. J. Resolution 78: 

That in the interpretation and execution of Section 42, of the Act 
of Congress, approved June 3, 1916, and Section 50, of said act, as 
amended by Joint Resolution of Congress of September 8, 1916, 
credit shall be given as for service in the junior or senior division of 
the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, to any member of those divi- 
sions for any period or periods of training during which such mem- 
bers shall have been in active service in the Army of the United 
States, or shall have received intensive training under the supervision 
of the War Department, or shall have pursued a course of military 
training in any organization authorized by any law of the United 
States, the amount of such credit to be determined by regulations 
to be prescribed by the Secretary of War. 

Fourteenth. — That the National Legislative Committee of the 
American Legion be empowered and directed to investigate all com- 
plaints of irregularities and injustices suffered by disabled service 
men and women in the administration of the War Risk, Vocational 
Rehabilitation, and other beneficial acts, and to urge legislation to 
remedy the same insofar as such 'legislation may need be covered in 
this report, and is not inconsistent with anything herein contained. 

Land Development and Home Aid Legislation 

Fifteenth. — Whereas, the American Legion, in National Conven- 
tion assembled, has before it a number of bills purporting to be of 

27 



benefit to those persons who served honorably in the military and 

naval forces of the United States, and, 

Whereas, none of the proposed bills makes adequate provision for 

the needs of the proposed beneficiaries, and, 

Whereas, delay would be most disastrous, therefore. 

Be It Resolved, that we request the immediate enactment of a law 

to be known as the American Legion Home Founding Act, embodying 

the following features: 

. 1. Reclamation of unproductive lands by direct Government opera- 
tion for settlement by service men and women. 

2. Reclamation and development of rural communities by loans 
of Government credit for settlement of such communities by" service 
men and women. 

3. Direct loans to service men and women for the purchase and 
development of farms. 

4. Direct loans to service men and women for the purchase of 
city homes, and, 

Be It Further Resolved. 

1. That the administration of the same be decentralized. 

2. That no heavy financial restriction be imposed. 

3. That the right of eminent domain be incorporated to prevent 
speculation. 

4. That the provision of such act shall be administered by former 
service men, and, 

Be It Further Resolved, that a committee of five be appointed by 
the National Executive Committee to be known as the Committee on 
Land and Home Aid, to secure this needed legislation. 

Adjusted Compensation 
Sixteenth.— Whereas, the question of adjustment of compensation 
or extra pay for service men and women is now pending before the 
Congress, and before acting thereon the Congress has shown the 
disposition to await the view of this convention upon the subject, 
therefore, 

Be It Resolved: That while the American Legion was not founded 
for the purpose of promoting legislation in its selfish interest, yet it 
recognized that our Government has an obligation to all service 
men and women to relieve the financial disadvantages incidental to 
their military service— an obligation second only to that of caring 
for the disabled and for the widows and orphans of those who sacri- 
ficed their lives, and one ahead, acknowledged b\ our Allies— but the 
American Legion feels that it cannot ask for legislation in its selfish 
interest, and leaves, with confidence, to the Congress the discharge of 
this obligation. 

Seventeenth.— The committee desires to record its thanks to the 
disabled service men and the representatives of various organizations 

28 



who have given the committee the benefit of their advice and informa- 
tion upon the subjects before it. 

MILITARY POLICY 

The following resolutions on military policy were adopted: 

1. That a large standing army is uneconomic and un-American. 
National safety with freedom from militarism is best assured by a 
National citizen army based on the democratic and American prin- 
ciples of the quality of obligation and opportunity for all. 

2. We favor a policy of universal military training, and that the 
administration of such policy shall be removed from the complete 
control of any exclusively military organization or caste. 

3. We are strongly opposed to compulsory military service in 
time of peace. 

4. We have bad a bitter experience in the cost of unpreparedness 
for national defense, and the lack of proper training on the part of 
officers and men, and we realize the necessity of an immediate revi- 
sion of our military system and a thorough housecleaning of the 
inefficient officers and methods of our entire military establishment. 

We favor a national military system based on universal military 
obligation, to include a relatively small regular army and a citizen 
army capable of rapid expansion sufficient to meet any national 
emergency, on a plan which will provide competitive and progressive 
training for all officers, both of the regular army and of the citizen 
forces. 

We believe that such military system should be subject to civil 
authority. 

Any legislation tending toward an enlarged and stronger military 
caste we unqualifiedly condemn. 

5. The National Citizen Army, which should and must be the 
chief reliance of this country in time of war, should be officered by 
men from its own ranks, and administered b\ a general staff on 
which citizen soldier, officers, and regular army officers shall serve 
in equal number. 

6. We favor the continuance of training camps for the training 
and education of officers to serve in case of national requirement. 

7. The National Citizen Army should be organized into corps, 
divisions, and smaller units composed in each case of officers and 
men who come from the same State or locality, and preserving local 
designations as far as practicable. 

8. The National Citizen Army should be trained, equipped, officered 
and assigned to different units, before rather than after the announce- 
ment of hostilities. 

9. The selection and training of men for the National Citizen 
Army should be under the local control and administration of its own 
officers, subject to general national regulations. 

29 



10. That a committee of seven be appointed by the Executive 
Committee of the American Legion to consult with and advise the 
Military Committee of both Houses of Congress as to the working 
out of the details of organization and training of the future army 
and navy of the United States, using as its basis the resolutions 
accepted and adopted by this convention. 

ANTI- AMERICAN PROPAGANDA 

The American Legion believes that the privilege of American 
citi enship should be granted solely upon the basis of fitness for 
that status, such fitness to include adaptability to American ideals, 
social and political, American civilization, form of government, and 
standard of living. 

It H as Resolved bj the American Legion, in convention assembled, 
that, 

We urge upon Congress a revision of the immigration policy of 
the United States, based upon the revelations of the war, as to the 
adaptability of alien races for American citizenship, and particularly 
in view of the fact that a policy of peaceful penetration is being car- 
ried on by alien races in certain sections of the United State>. 

Upholding the right of this nation to determine its own citizenship, 
without any alien race having cause for grievance over its exclusion 
from unrestricted immigration, the American Legion calls the 
especial attention of Congress to the conditions regarding alien pene- 
tration prevailing on the Pacific Slope, in the Territory of Hawaii, 
and the Philippine Islands. 

To meet these conditions: 

1. The American Legion demands immediate action for the abro- 
gation of the so-called "gentlemen's agreement" with Japan, now 
being continually violated especially by the admission of the so-called 
"picture brides," and the exclusion of Japanese from the United 
States on the same principle already adopted in the case of other 
Oriental races. 

2. The American Legion demands confirmation and legalization 
of the policy that foreign-born Japanese shall be forever barred from' 
American citizenship. 

3. The American Legion demands that Congress prepare an 
amendment to Section 1, of the XIV Amendment of .the Federal Con- 
stitution to the effect that no child born in the United States after 
the date such amendment becomes effective, of foreign parentage, 
shall be eligible to citizenship in the United States unless both parents 
were so eligible at that time. 

4. The American Legion requests Congress to send sub-commit- 
tees of the Committees on Immigration of both Houses^to the Pacific 
Slope, the Territory of Hawaii and the Philippine Islands, in order 

30 



that the} - may study conditions and be able to intelligently repor: 
lation along the lines named. 

Resoluticn Forming a Commission of the American Legion to 
F : ster and Perpetuate a ioo Per Cent Americanism 

We recommend the establishment of a N • - Com- 

n of the American Legion, whose duty shall be the endeavor 
to realize in the United States the basic ideal of this Lrgion of 100 
per cent Americanism through the planning, establishment, and con- 
duct of a continuous, constructive educational system to ( 1 ) 
Combat all ant - n tendencies, activities and propaganda. 2 

for the educa: 1 immigrant e American citizens, 

and alien residents in the pri: - Americanism. Inculcate 

the ideals of Americanism in the citizen population, particularly the 
basic American principle that the inter ;ts : all the people are 

those of anv special interest or any so-called class or section 
of the people. (4) Spread throughout the people of the nation in- 
formation as to the real nature and principles of American Govern- 
-:er the teaching of Americanism in all schools. 

-he purpose stated the comn. to the National 

Executive Committee a plan, and from time to time supplen. 

which may include a national advertising compaign, the pub- 
lication of literature, the organization of lecture courses, co-operation 
with schools and other agencies, and such other means of earning 
out the purpose outlined as may be appropriate. 

L pon the approval by the National E nittee the 

- to proceed upon the approved activi:. 

rands are to be used tor this purpose, except those specuicallv 
appropriated by the Legion, or its properly constituted authorities 
for the appropriation of funds, or which shall be raised with the 
approval of the National Executive Committee from members of the 
Legion only. 

The commission may recommend a system of co-op-/ I > mmit- 
tees or officers in State branches or pc 

The commission shall be elected by the National Executive Com- 
mittee immediately after this convention, and shall consist of not 
over fifteen members, who shall hold office for one year, or until the 
S ational Executive Committee to employ such officers or staff 
as shall be approved by that committee. 

The Committee Further Recommends, that, as the preliminary 
organization and planning of the commission will take time, that 
meanwhile the local posts of the American Legion be urged to or- 
ganize immediately for the purpose of meeting the insidious propa- 
ganda of Bolshevism. I. W. YV. ism. radicalism, and all other anti- 
Americanisms by taking up the problem of: 

31 



1. Detecting anti-American activities everywhere and seizing every 
opportunity everywhere to speak plainh and openly for 100 per cent 
Americanism and for nothing less. 

2. Making direct appeals to legal authority to take such lawful 
steps as mav be necessary to correct local conditions everywhere. 

3. Making every member of each local post a constructive force 
for the upbuilding of a vital knowledge of the principles of the Con- 
stitution of the United States and of the processes of law and order 
obtaining under that Constitution. 

4. Showing to every person contaminated by un-American preju- 
dice, that the welfare of all the people is really the best interest of 
any class, and that government must be conceived in terms of all 
the people and not for the benefit of relatively small classes. 

Whereas. One of the primary purposes of the American Legion 
is to disseminate the principles of true Americanism, and to that end 
to advise and encourage everything that will tend to secure a posi- 
tive nationalism and a love and respect of flag and country. 

Be It Resolvedj that it is the sense of this organization now 
assembled in convention, and legislation to that effect is recom- 
mended, that every public and private school in the United States be 
required to devote at least ten minutes of each school day to patriotic- 
exercises, and that the American flag be kept raised over every such 
school during every school day, weather permitting; and that the 
American flag be displayed at all political meetings and public 
gatherings. 

Whereas, the Territory of Hawaii is a vital outpost of American 
civilization in the Pacific, and, 

Whereas, the citizens of that territory have always been pioneers 
in the furthering of the ideals of civilization upon which the American 
Government is founded and have more than met even call in men, 
service and money made upon them in the defense of Americanism 
and civilization, and. 

Whereas, they are now carrying the almost staggering burden 
of Americanizing a population of which a great proportion is alien, 
and 

Whereas, the American Legion of Hawaii is dedicating its ener- 
gies, with other agencies, to this task. 

Therefore Be It Resolved by the American Legion, in convention 
assembled, that the Legion pledges itself to give all possible aid to 
the Hawaii branch in this work; 

And that the Congress of the LJnited States is urged to extend 
even assistance possible to the citizens of Hawaii in meeting this 
Americanization problem by educational and other means, and by the 
encouragement of the settlement in Hawaii of Americans, or of 
peoples whose loyalty to the United States and whose assimilability 
in an American community is certain. 

32 



Resolved, that we. the American Legion, in convention assembled, 
demand that the Government of the United States proceed forthwith 
and immediately deport all aliens who have already been tried, con- 
victed or interned as enemies of our Government, and that all other 
aliens who are advocating the overthrow of our Government by 
force and violence, be tried and, if possible, convicted and deported; 
that in the event the present laws of the United States are not suf- 
ficient to cover this situation, that Congress pass such laws as will 
enable our law-enforcing officials to rid our country of this scum 
who hate our God, our country, our flag, and who prate of their 
privileges and refuse to perform their duties. 

Be It Further Resolved, that Congress pass such laws which will 
effectually punish Americans who have become so lost to common 
decency and patriotism that they are actually assisting aliens to bring 
about disorder and revolution in our country, and if such Americans 
be naturalized citizens, that their citizenship be revoked and they 
be deported. 

Be It Furth?r Resolved, that we recommend a course in citizenship 
constitute a part of the curriculum of even- school in this country, 
and that ail our schools be thrown open to aliens for night courses. 
and all other persons who care to take advantage of same. 

The spirit of this resolution is the Americanization of America, 
and we feel if the above demands and recommendations are fol- 
lowed, the next generation will see this country rid of the underisable 
element now present in its citizenship, foreign colonies a thing of the 
past, the spirit of true Americanism prevailing throughout the length 
and breadth of our country, and our ideals of Government secure. 

Whereas, there exists in this country, at the present time, various 

_ mizations and isms, whose ultimate aim is the destruction of the 
principles of law. order and true democracy, and. 

Whereas, these organizations are all known and closely watched 
bv the Department of Justice, and it is said that this department has 
at the present time in its possession a great mass of facts and 
evidence regarding these activities, especially those of the so-called 
parlor socialist and Bolsheviki. which our organization considers by 
far the most dangerous, for they, under a mask of respectability, 
insidiously inject infamous teachings into the minds and thoughts of 
our citizens, therefore be it 

Resolved, that the President of these United Si '■-spectfully 

petitioned to take such steps as are necessary to change the Depart- 
ment of Justice from a passive evidence-collecting organization to a 
militant and active group of workers, whose findings shall be force- 
hilly acted upon by this, our American Government. 

33 



Enforcement of Sentences cf Persons Convicted of Violations of 

the Draft Law and Other Laws Relating to the Military 

and Naval Preparation of the United States 

In view of the fact that there has been an appeal of considerable 
strength brought to bear upon the authorities of this country by a 
seditious element, which is prejudicial to the best interests of true 
Americanism, and of the established customs and institutions, that 
certain prisoners of a political character be released, and that as these 
prisoners strove to defeat the draft law, the mobilization of American 
forces, the successful prosecution of the war. and other measures 
contributing to our national defense, it was 

Resolved, that the American Legion, in annual convention as- 
sembled, does hereby urge upon Congress that adequate measures 
be taken to prevent the release of this class of prisoners from con- 
finement, that there be no mitigation of their sentences, that where 
possible they be deported upon the expiration of their sentences, and 
that most stringent steps be taken in even dealing with them to show 
to this and future generations that there is no home in America for 
sedition, and that the V nited States is a land of honor that can brook 
neither treachery nor traitors. 

A Resolution Providing fcr the Deportation of the Alien Slacker 

During the period of the participation by the United States in the 
Great War, many aliens who had already taken steps to become 
L nited States citizens, experienced a change of heart, and renounced 
their intention of becoming citizens. 

This action on the part of aliens proved that they had no sincere 
intention in the first instance of becoming citizens, and in their appli- 
cation for their first papers were guided by improper motives, and 
were guilty of imposition and fraud upon our naturalization laws. I; 
was therefore. 

Resolved bj the American Legion in national convention assembled, 
that we demand of Congress the passage of laws providing for the 
deportation of aliens guilty of the fraud and imposition aforesaid to 
the countries of their origin. 

Providing for Publishing Names of Alien Slackers 

Whereas, during the period of the participation by the L nited 
States in the Great War. many aliens who had already taken steps 
to become citizens, of the L nited States, experienced a change of 
heart and renounced their intention of becoming citizens, and ex- 
pressed a desire to remain citizens or subjects of the lands of their 
origin, 

34 



And Whereas, it is vital to our welfare that these men who de- 
serted the country which gave them refuge in her hour of need should 
never again have the opportunity of imposing upon our naturaliza- 
tion laws by expressing intentions which they have no sincere purpose 
to fulfill. 

Now, Therefore, Be ft Resolved by the American Legion, in 
national convention assembled, that we demand of Congress the 
passage of laws requiring the Bureau of Naturalization to compile 
a list of such aliens, giving their names and addresses, to print a 
sufficient number of such lists, to file a copy of such list as a public 
court record in every court in the United States authorized by law to 
grant naturalization, and requiring every such alien, under suitable 
penalties, to notify the Bureau of Naturalization and the court of 
the county in which he resides, of every change in his place of resi- 
dence, which change the bureau shall transmit to all courts in the 
United States aforesaid for their information and guidance in pre- 
venting imposition. 

Providing for Legislation to Prevent Aliens Who Were Exempted 
from Military Service Becoming Citizens 

During the period of the participation by the United States in the 
Great War, many aliens claimed, and were granted, exemption from 
the selective service law on the ground of alienage. 

These aliens sought and obtained the benefits of our laws and in- 
stitutions while renouncing any obligation to defend the same, thereby 
proving themselves undesirable and unworthy to become citizens of 
the country for which we fought and for which our comrades gave 
their lives. 

// Was, Thercjoi e, Resolved, that we demand of the Congress the 
passage of laws which shall effectively and forever make it impossible 
for these aliens to acquire citizenship, 

And Be it Further Resolved, that we demand of Congress the 
passage of laws requiring the Bureau of Naturalization to compile 
a list of said aliens, with the assistance of the War Department, 
that said list be published, and that a copy thereof be deposited as a 
public document with the clerk of every United States court in this 
country. 

A Resolution Demanding That the Congress of the United States 

Adopt Adequate Legislation to Prevent Any Personal 

Organization to Carry On Propaganda Inimical 

to the Interests of the United States 

There are in the United States a large number of men and women 
who are endeavoring to overthrow the Government of the United 
States. 

35 



There is apparently not now in the statutes of the United States 
adequate legislation to prevent any person, organization, association, 
or society, foreign or domestic, from carrying on meetings and issuing 
printed and verbal propaganda inimical to the interests of the United 
States and organized Government. 

// Was Resolved by the American Legion in national convention 
assembled, that Congress take immediate action to enact legislation 
to prevent any person or persons, organizations or societies, within 
the United States from carrying on any verbal, written, or printed 
intercourse, or correspondence with any other person or persons 
either citizens or aliens, with the intent either peaceably or by vio- 
lence, to overthrow the Government of the United States, 

77 Was Further Resolved, that the American Legion urge upon 
Congress the necessity for severe penalties for violation of any act 
or acts which may be enacted in connection with these matters, and 
that aliens found guilty of violation of any act or acts of this char- 
acter, be summarily deported after sentence expires. 

Resolution on Education 

Whereas, it is the belief of the American Legion that a speaking 
and reading knowledge of the American language is essential to the 
proper conception of the principles of our Government, and of 
American institutions, and that much of the dangerous radicalism now 
existent in this country has originated, and is fostered by persons of 
our non-American speaking population, it is 

Resolved, 1. That all the youth of this country should have an ele- 
mentary education in the fundamentals necessary for citizenship, and 
particularly in the language of the United States, and that Congress 
be requested, during the present session, to pass such acts as will re- 
quire the basis of all instruction in elementary public and private 
schools to be the American language. 

2. That the Congress of the United States be urged to enact such 
laws as will require aliens resident in this country to acquire a 
knowledge of the American language. 

Resolution Regarding the Anti-American Propaganda Aided and 

Abetted by Actions of the War Department In Its 

Handling of Conscientious Objectors 

Whereas, the War Department, ignoring the resolutions passed 
by the National Caucus of the American Legion, has permitted con- 
scientious objectors who had been legally tried and convicted for 
disobedience of all orders and of treachery, by a court of com- 
petent jurisdiction, to be pardoned, restored to duty, and honorably 
discharged with all back pay and allowance, and a new outfit, and, 

Whereas, this conduct on the part of the War Department not 

36 



only has brought shame and discredit to the men who fought to pro- 
tect this Government, but has served to aid and abet and encourage 
the marked growth of anti- American propaganda from radicals, 
Bolshevists, and anarchists, who are the avowed enemies of our 
Government, and, 

Whereas, the members of the War Department, though manifest- 
ing great diligence in punishing the defenders of our country for the 
slightest infraction of military discipline, yet persist in showing such 
anxiety for the safety and welfare of conscientious objectors, many 
of whom were naught but enemies of this country, hiding behind the 
cloak of religion, 

Therefore Be It Resolved, that we, the American Legion, in 
national convention assembled, do hereby request that Congress shall 
speedily and thoroughly investigate the release of the aforesaid con- 
scientious objectors and direct the War Department to recall honor- 
able discharges granted this class of men, and be it further 

Resolved, that we demand that Congress shall at once enact such 
laws as may be necessary to prevent ever again, enemies of this 
country hiding behind a religious cloak, to be honored by this 
country when deserving nothing but disgrace, and be it further, 

Resolved, that we request of Congress the enactment at once of 
such laws as may be necessary to promptly punish the conscientious 
objectors of the past World War, who are American citizens, and 
speedily deport from this country conscientious objectors who are 
aliens, and that the officials of the War Department responsible 
for such tender treatment accorded the conscientious objectors be 
summarily dealt with, be those officials high or low, and be it further, 

Resolved, that we hereby announce to the world that the American 
Legion considers the action of the War Department, in this matter, 
as one of the first counts in spreading and encouraging anti-American 
propaganda. 

Resolution in Opposition to the Promiscuous Organization cf 

Societies Ostensibly for the Relief of the Civil 

Population of Enemy Countries 

The American Legion viewed with apprehension the tendency of 
enemy sympathizers to organize societies ostensibly for the purpose 
of affording relief to the civilian population of enemy countries, 

It Was Resolved, that such relief as may be furnished to the 
civilian population of countries now, or lately our enemies, be ex- 
tended solely through the media of agencies incorporated by the Con- 
gress of the United States, or through agencies authorized for such 
purpose by Congress. 

Whereas, certain publications in foreign language published, or 
distributed in the United States, are used by anarchists and revolu- 

37 



tionists to preach destruction of American institutions and the Gov- 
ernment of the United States. 

Be It Resolved, that it is the consensus of opinion of the American 
Legion, in convention assembled, that all foreign language news- 
papers, magazines, periodicals and pamphlets published or distributed 
in the United States, be required to furnish a true and correct trans- 
lation, properly sworn to, of all articles, together with the true and 
correct address of the author of every article so published, which 
tend to condemn our form of government, and which are of a political 
nature, and that five copies of said translation be left with the post- 
master in the place of publication, and if published abroad, with the 
Postmaster General of the United States, such copies to be open to 
public inspection, and that suitable penalties be provided by law for 
violation of the requirement. 

Amended : 

That the translation of any such article be published in parallel 
column, under oath as to its accuracy, with severe penalty. (Passed 
as amended). 

RESOLUTIONS 

A large number of resolutions were presented by the committee on 
resolutions, which included the following: 

I 

1. Be It Resolved, that the American Legion records its apprecia- 
tion of the loyal, intelligent, and disinterested services rendered the 
Legion by its retiring chairman, Colonel Henry D. Lindsley; and 

2. Be It Further Resolved, that the title of Past National Com- 
mander, as provided for in the Constitution, be, and are hereby con- 
ferred upon the present chairman on and after the adjournment of 
this convention, and, 

3. Be It Further Resolved, that the Executive Committee be, and 
is hereby instructed, to select and present annually to each retiring 
National Commander, a suitable insignia symbolic of the ideals and 
purposes of the American Legion. 

II 

1. The Following Resolution was passed by the American Legion 
Convention in appreciation of the memorial certificates to be issued 
by the French government to all survivors of those men who died in 
the service of the United States during the World War. 

2. Resolved, that the American Legion accepts with sincerest ap- 
preciation, the touching task given it by the Republic of France, and 
that this convention 'directs its president to convey its thanks in be- 
half of the American people for this most appealing tribute. 

38 



Ill 

Be It Resolved, that the Chairman of the Executive Committee of 
the American Legion be instructed to write a suitable letter of 
appreciation to the mother of the boy who carried the first American 
flag over the top. (Mrs. Thompson, Westfield, N. J.). 

IV 

Be It Resolved by the American Legion, in convention assembled, 
that we extend most deep appreciation and loyal thanks to the press 
and all papers, magazines, and publicity committees who have so 
graciously assisted the American Legion. 

V 

1. Resolved, that it be the sense of the American Legion that the 
bodies of the American dead be not returned from France, except 
in cases where the parents or next of kin desire that the Government 
return them, and that the United States of America, in co-operation 
with the government and the people of France, establish and main- 
tain cemeteries for the American dead that remain in France or other 
foreign countries, to the end that the graves of those who made the 
supreme sacrifice may be maintained as permanent memorials of 
America's unselfish service to humanity. 

2. Resolved, that the National Executive Committee be authorized 
to take the subject of a memorial in France under consideration, with 
full powers, after due study, to determine the most appropriate and 
fitting form of the memorial, to select a site with the sanction of the 
foreign authorities, and to organize a movement to raise, by popular 
subscription, at a fitting time, the funds needed to build a memorial 
worthy of our dead comrades. 

VI 

1. Resolved, that the American Legion pledges its members 
heartily to support the Government's Thrift Savings and Investment 
Campaign, and urges its local posts to provide a Government Savings 
Committee, to promote savings among members, and directs the 
National Officers of the American Legion to take such action as is 
necessary to promote Government savings throughout the organiza- 
tion, and, 

2. Resolved Further, that the American Legion calls upon the 
American people to support the after-war financial program of the 
Government as unanimously and effectively as they did the war loans, 
which proved to the world the financial power of organized democ- 
racy. 

VII 

Resolved, that the American Legion heartily commends the prin- 
ciples and achievements of the Boy Scouts, and recommends that each 

39 



post assist the Scout troops in its community, in whatever manner 
practicable. 

VIII 

Resolved, that the National Executive Committee be directed to 
urge emphatic legislation upon the subject of slackers, as follows: 

First. — The finding and punishment of the slacker. 

Second. — The withholding of naturalization papers from all those 
who cancelled their first papers to evade military service, and their 
deportation. 

Third. — The punishment of those who aided and abetted slackers. 

IX 

1. Whereas, during the Great War, members of the Reserve 
Nurse Army Corps worked hand in hand with those of the medical 
profession, assuming full responsibility for their particular duties in 
cooperation with them, sharing equally in danger and discomfort; 

Resolved, that the American Legion use its efforts to further the 
passage of a bill for absolute rank for nurses, with opportunity for 
promotion, and that similar provision be made for the nurses of the 
United States Navy. 

X 

Resolved, that the National Executive Committee is empowered 
to make suitable provisions for the collection of war photographs, 
equipment, and such other paraphernalia of war as would preserve 
our knowledge of the Great War for all time. 

XI 

Resolved, that the National Executive Committee be instructed to 
lend their efforts to secure the approval of Congressional action 
which will provide the necessary rifles, cartridges, bayonets, and scab- 
bards, and other equipment necessary for use at military funerals 
by the various posts of the American Legion. 

XII 

1. Whereas, the constitution of the American Legion, adopted at 
St. Louis, in its preamble declares that the Legion's purpose among 
other things, is "to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the 
community, State and the Nation;" and, 

2. Whereas, the need of a constructive peace-time program in 
every American community, lays upon all members of the Legion a 
genuine responsibility ; 

3. 7 herefore Be It Resolved, that a special committee of five be 
appointed by the National Executive Committee to draw up a report 
on the purposes and methods of social organization and community 
service proposed by non-community, non-political, and non-sectarian 
organizations, said report to serve as the basis for recommendations 

40 



covering local and State-wide activities, which may legitimately 
come within the purpose of the American Legion, make the Legion a 
a power in every community and serve to "Foster and perpetuate a 
one hundred per cent Americanism," to which as an organization we 
are pledged. 

XIII 

1. Whereas, an incorporated association known as "Carry-On 
Association" has been -formed to furnish additional aid to that fur- 
nished by the Government to crippled soldiers, sailors and 
marines, and such association is now furnishing such aid with the 
endorsement of the United States officials in charge of such matters, 
as the exclusive agency for the housing of men during their vocational 
training, by means of "Carry-On Clubs" which have been established 
or will be established, throughout the country, in which said crippled 
and disabled soldiers, sailors and marines are given lodging, food, 
such medical and dental service as are not supplied by the Govern- 
ment, and, if necessary, clothing, transportation, etc., at considerably 
less than cost; 

2. Resolved, The American Legion endorses and thanks the 
"Carry-On Association," and encourages the local Posts to co-operate 
with this association in its efforts to aid the crippled and wounded 
until the United States Government can properly take care of them; 

3. Resolved Further, That a department of the Government be 
immediately instituted to care for injured disabled service men, inas- 
much as work of this nation should not be left indefinitely in the 
hands of private individuals or charitable organizations. 

XIV 

1. Whereas, the women of the United States who gave their sons 
and husbands to the great cause of humanity, and were left with a 
gold star as their only recognition for sacrifice ; therefore be it 

2.~ Resolved, That the American Legion in convention assembled 
offer their sympathy and service wherever called upon by a gold-star 
woman. 

XV 

Resolved, That the American Legion request the honor and privi- 
lege of participating in the memorial services of the G. A. R. and 
Confederate veterans, while they still live, and, after death, to be 
the agency which shall continue these services so that their graves 
and the graves of all other American soldiers shall be fittingly pre- 
served and the memory of their deeds be perpetuated upon the tablets 
of love and memory, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded 
to the Commanders of the G. A. R. and Confederate veterans. 

41 



XVI 

Resolved, That this convention place on the records of its proceed- 
ings an expression of its appreciation of the very cordial and warm 
reception given to it by the State of Minnesota and the city of Minne- 
apolis, and that it extend a rising vote of gratitude to the Minneapolis 
Convention Committee, the American Legion of Minnesota and the 
mothers, wives, and daughters who have left a lasting impression upon 
the visiting delegates for their warm hospitality. 

XVII 

Resolved, That the American Legion condemn any attempt at this 
time to resume relationship with German activities, and lends its 
influences against the resumption of German opera, instruction of 
German in the schools, public performances of German and Austrian 
performers, and any other act which tends to minimize the German 
guild. 

XVIII 

1. Whereas, the welfare of the widows and children of our 
deceased comrades should be a matter of concern to every member 
of the American Legion; therefore, be it 

2. Resolved, By the American Legion in convention assembled, 
that the Posts and all members of the American Legion charge them- 
selves with the duty of searching for such persons in their community 
and extending to them such care and assistance as may be within 
their power. 

XIX 

1. Whereas, the American Legion, as an organization of Vet- 
erans of the World War, may best serve its purpose and most effi- 
ciently and practically pursue its policies through community or 
geographic units ; therefore, be it 

2. Resolved, That a ruling be made eliminating, in the future, 
Posts of any other class and confining organization to community 
Posts ; and 

3. Resolved Further-, That the State organization be requested to 
endeavor, in so far as possible, to effect combinations or unions of 
already established unit Posts with others organized on the present 
regular and recommended basis. 

XX 

Resolved, That the American Legion in convention assembled calls 
upon the Congress and the Secretaries of War, Navy and Treasury 
to see to it that the business of the Finance Office be dispatched with 
reasonable promptness and that a clerical force of such number and 
efficiency be granted that office immediately as will remedy the present 
deplorable condition. 

42 



XXI 

1. Resolved, That the American Legion in national convention 
assembled hereby denounces the so-called liberty of action which 
permits aliens in this country to publicly denounce or unfavorably 
criticize our principles or our form of government without restraint, 
and favors such State and national legislation as will prohibit such 
conduct ; and be it 

2. Further Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be fur- 
nished individual members of the State legislatures throughout the 
Union and individual members of Congress through the State and 
national organization of the American Legion. 

XXII 

Resolved, That the Chief Executive of the American Legion be 
paid a salary of six thousand dollars ($6,000) per year and his actual 
traveling and living expenses while away from home in the discharge 
of his duties. 

XXIII 

Be It Resolved, That the American Legion in convention assembled 
deplores and condemns strikes on the part of policemen, firemen and 
all employes of the nation, States and municipalities, to whom are 
committed the protection of life, order and law, and who have taken 
a solemn oath to maintain and uphold law and order for the whole 
people. We condemn all forms of anarchy and Bolshevism and will 
attack the red flag wherever it may be raised, as the s} r mbol of dis- 
order, riot and anarchy. 

XXIV 

1. Whereas, disturbed conditions growing out of the World War 
are apparent in various countries, and these conditions have appeared 
in the United States through the activities of persons of undemocratic 
tendencies; and 

2. Whereas, the manufacturing, business, labor and social inter- 
ests of our country have been disorganized thereby ; 

3. Resolved, That the American Legion calls the attention of all 
parties to these controversies to these rights of the people as a whole 
to demand a lasting settlement of all disputes now interrupting the 
peaceful pursuits of the nation; and be it 

4. Further Resolved, That the American Legion calls on men of 
all classes who have their country and its interests at heart to bury 
their troubles, get together for humanity's sake, and put their shoul- 
ders to the wheel of production, for the betterment of the interest 
of our whole people. 

This is the earnest appeal of your patriotic sons to all Americans 
who truly represent the American spirit and seek universal happiness 
and prosperity. We represent potentially 4,800,000 men who were 
in the service in this Great War; therefore, this is no light resolution, 

43 



but a first appeal of great hearts for fair and square dealing on the 
part of all concerned. If they do not act fairly, squarely and sensibly, 
the same spirit that led us to take up the fight for righteousness and 
humanity on the battlefield will lead us to exercise all the powers 
within us to solve the situation and to save our country. 

XXV 

1. Whereas, the present widespread disorder among our large 
alien population is largely the result of seditious conduct of paid and 
skilled alien agitators, unmindful of the hospitality of the country in 
which they are temporarily sojourning; therefore, be it 

2. Resolved, By the American Legion in convention assembled, that 
it heartily approves the action of the President of the United States 
in directing the arrest and deportation of alien agitators. 

XXVI 

Resolved, That the American Legion recommends that American 
Indians who honorably served in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps 
of the United States during the World War be given the full rights 
of citizenship, provided they did not evade or attempt to evade full 
and complete performance of such service because of conscientious 
objections or otherwise. 

XXVII 

Resolved, That those alien enemies who were interned and died 
during the World War, and who were interred in national cemeteries, 
be removed from such cemeteries and be given proper burial else- 
where. 

XXVIII 

Resolved, In order to expedite the business of the next annual 
convention, that the National Secretary is instructed to request in 
the call for the convention that all delegates thereto whose State 
conventions have adopted resolutions to be presented to the next 
annual convention, or who intend to present resolutions for them- 
selves, prepare the same in triplicate, each resolution be on a 
separate sheet of paper and dealing with but one subject, and to be in 
typewriting, if possible, and to mail such resolutions to the National 
Secretary at least two weeks before the date of the convention, so 
that the National Secretary may attach appropriate titles thereto and 
classify them for the prompt consideration of the appropriate com- 
mittees of the next annual convention. 

XXIX 

Resolved, That the American Legion urges immediate revision of 
the Articles of War and court-martial laws of the United States. 

44 



XXX 

1. Whereas, anarchistic and un-American groups in the United 
States have incited riots and disorder in many of our communities 
and have already wantonly murdered our comrades and fellow 
citizens: 

2. Be It Resolved, That the American Legion, fully recognizing its 
obligations to the community, State and Nation, urges its members 
as individual citizens to promptly, fearlessly and effectively assist the 
constituted legal authorities in the maintenance of law and order and 
the suppression of riots and mob violence. 



Officers for the ensuing year were elected, at the conclusion of 
which the convention adjourned, at 9:30 P. M., Wednesday, 
November 12, 1919. 



45 



020 915 292 7 



